The Supreme Court takes up a case that could stanch the flow of funds to public sector unions.

Ever since 1977, government workers in half of the states have paid mandatory administrative fees to the unions that represent them. This week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could put an end to that practice. The plaintiffs in Friedrichs v California Teachers Association argue that public sector union activity is inherently political, and so forcing them to support that activity violates their First Amendment rights.

On this week’s episode, we hear from lawyers who submitted amicus briefs on each side of the case. Ilya Shapiro is a senor fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute who submitted a brief on behalf of the Cato Institute. Samuel Bagenstos is a professor at the University of Michigan Law School who authored a brief for a group of cities, counties, and elected officials who support the unions’ right to collect mandatory fees from their workers.

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